Good post. We might not like it (I don't), but it's consistent. Based on what little I know, though, it looks like the NCAA bent over backward to misrepresent this as a university-wide problem rather than athletic academic fraud. That doesn't pass the smell test - what purpose would real students have for taking fake AAS classes? They're only there to learn and get a degree, so what's the point? It was obviously fraud set up for the purpose of keeping athletes eligible. Just because non-athletes were involved doesn't change the obvious purpose or effect.
Interesting observation. The only point I would quibble with is the one about "regular students". Unfortunately, I think many see college as the means to an end and their final GPA, semesters on Dean's List, etc. being just as important or more so than what they actually learn.
SUOrange44